Can You Abruptly Stop Taking Plavix?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Do not stop taking clopidogrel without first talking to your health care professional. Suddenly stopping the use of antiplatelet medicines can put you at risk for heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots. Be aware that while taking clopidogrel you may bruise more easily, and it may take longer for any bleeding to stop.

What will happen if I stop taking clopidogrel?

Do not stop taking clopidogrel without talking to your doctor. If you stop taking clopidogrel, your blood will start clotting at the same rate as before you started taking it , usually within 5 days of stopping the medicine. This means you may be at increased risk of serious problems like heart attacks or strokes.

Do you need to wean off Plavix?

You do not need to wean the drug , and can stop it abruptly.

Can you take Plavix every other day?

Conclusions: Long term dual anti-platelet therapy with aspirin 81 mg daily and clopidogrel 75 mg every other day beyond 12 months after PCI with DES may be a safe and efficacious cost-saving strategy to prevent VLST.

Do I have to take Plavix for the rest of my life?

Current guidelines say to take Plavix and aspirin every day for a month after getting a bare-metal stent and daily for at least a year after getting a drug-coated stent to prevent blood clots from forming inside a stent. Called late stent thrombosis, such clots can cause a heart attack or cardiac arrest.

When can I stop taking Plavix?

Plavix is estimated to be cleared from your body in about 33 hours . A single, oral dose of Plavix (clopidogrel) 75 mg has a half-life of approximately 6 hours. It takes 5.5 x half-life of a medicine for a drug to leave the body, therefore most of the Plavix should be eliminated from your system in 5.5 x 6 = 33 hours.

What are the side effects of long term use of Plavix?

  • bleeding that will not stop;
  • bloody or tarry stools, blood in your urine;
  • coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
  • chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;

Can I drink coffee with Plavix?

These medications are used to slow blood clotting and include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, and others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, and others), enoxaparin (Lovenox), and more. Health experts advise caution when combining them with coffee , which can also slow blood clotting.

Is Plavix bad for your liver?

Liver damage is a rare side effect of clopidogrel. That is reversible in most cases. Considering the widespread use of this medication in cardiovascular diseases, the management of hepatotoxicity requires further meticulous investigation.

Does Plavix cause memory loss?

Some patients have no side effects, have had very good results with Plavix and even credit it with saving their lives. Others have had many different side effects, bruising, uncontrollable bleeding, memory loss, fatigue, swelling of hands and feet and many more.

What foods should you avoid while taking Plavix?

  • Asparagus.
  • Broccoli.
  • Brussels sprouts.
  • Cauliflower.
  • Green onions.
  • Kale.
  • Parsley.
  • Spinach.

Can you stop taking Plavix cold turkey?

You do not need to wean the drug, and can stop it abruptly .

What is a natural alternative to Plavix?

  • Turmeric. Share on Pinterest. ...
  • Ginger. Share on Pinterest. ...
  • Cayenne peppers. Share on Pinterest. ...
  • Vitamin E. Share on Pinterest. ...
  • Garlic. ...
  • Cassia cinnamon. ...
  • Ginkgo biloba. ...
  • Grape seed extract.

When should I stop taking Plavix before dental surgery?

Some surgeons and dentists prefer that their patients stop taking the drugs a week or so before the procedure. But this temporarily boosts the chances a clot could form inside the stent.

Does Plavix reduce stroke risk?

7, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Taking the blood thinner Pletal (cilostazol) with either aspirin or clopidogrel (best known as Plavix) lowers stroke patients’ risk of a subsequent stroke better than taking aspirin or clopidogrel alone, a new study finds.

How long should you stay on clopidogrel?

The key question for your doctor is whether the benefits outweigh the extra risk. This combination treatment is prescribed for a limited period of time, usually up to a maximum of 12 months . After this period, your specialist will usually advise you to stop 1 of the 2 antiplatelet medications

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.